Laminate Flooring: Care & Maintenance Tips
Laminate flooring needs minimal maintenance. It does not require re-finishing after every few years. It just requires daily cleaning with a vacuum cleaner.
Never use water to clean your laminate flooring. Excess water may lead to corrosion of the wood and also damage the finish. The top material takes care of the surface moisture well but the interior material should not get wet or else it expands and damages the flooring.
Laminate flooring will offer you excellent results if you follow some simple maintenance measures.
Given below are some standard maintenance tips:
- Use glides below all furniture items so that the furniture could be moved effortlessly
- Take extra care while moving heavy objects or try to lift them instead of dragging them
- Use a mat at all room entrances to stop dirt and sand from getting inside
- Clean your floor on a regular basis
- Dry the floor completely after wiping with a damp cloth (the cloth should be moistened very lightly with plain water.)
- Do not use any harsh abrasive cleaning solutions on the floor
- Do not use soap based detergents for cleaning since they may leave a residue on the floor
- A mixture of vinegar or ammonia and water can be used for removing stains
- If something such as gum or wax sticks to the floor, it should be left to harden completely and then scraped gently with a plastic scraper
- Do not polish it
- Never refinish a laminate floor
- An optimum temperature of 75°F and an average humidity level of 50% should be maintained in the room
- Keep high heels in good condition or else they will damage the flooring
- Keep your pet’s nail trimmed since they may scratch your laminate flooring
Most of the manufacturers give a warranty of about 12-20 years. This warranty is against discoloration, wearing, and any cracks or fissures.
Exterior damage may occur under certain conditions but it can be easily avoided by adopting the above given precautionary procedures. The most important thing is that you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.
Always ask your retailer for post-installation care and maintenance instructions. It may be possible that you may not be allowed to clean for the first 48 hours after installation. Remember that dirt and grit are the worst enemy of your laminate flooring.
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